Wood
Woods are chosen for use in making objects because of their specific properties – how strong they are, how flexible, how durable.
So if you know what the object is used for, it helps in the identification of the wood it’s made from. And vice versa, if you can identify the wood something is made from it will help you determine what the object was used for.
|
Wood |
Properties | Types of uses |
|---|---|---|
| Pine | Soft | Furniture |
| Beech | Does not taint Easily turned |
Back of Windsor chairs Handles Wooden printing type |
| Sycamore | Does not taint Easy turned |
Dairy and kitchen equipment |
| Oak | Hard Strong |
Wheel spokes Chair legs |
| Ash | Strength with length | Wheel felloes Handles |
| Elm | Knotted grain therefore strong | Wheel hubs |
| Box/Fruit woods | Fine grain | Items with detailed carving Wood engraving blocks |
Resource: SHCG’s Object Lessons: Wood resource is a really useful starting point to learning how to identify wood.
Also search on firstBASE for wood or treen to take your knowledge further.